Bomb recovered from train in north Bengal

By IANS

Kolkata : A major tragedy was averted Friday with the timely recovery of a bomb from the Kolkata-bound Teesta Torsa Express in north Bengal's Jalpaiguri district.

I work to de-stress: Sanjay Dutt

By Probir Pramanik

IANS

Mumbai : Attired in his trademark blue faded jeans, but discarding his "lucky-charm" blue shirt for a striped white, top Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt looked visibly stressed sitting at the back of a crowded courtroom Friday.

Six militants, two women killed in eastern Afghanistan

By DPA

Kabul : Six Taliban fighters were killed in a battle with police, while two women died and five others were wounded in a rocket attack in eastern Afghanistan, officials said Friday.

Hingora jailed for supplying arms to Sanjay Dutt

By IANS

Mumbai : The special TADA court hearing the Mumbai serial blasts case Friday sentenced five people, including Bollywood producer Samir Hingora who supplied weapons to actor Sanjay Dutt, to rigorous imprisonment ranging from eight years to life.

EU-Iran nuclear talk makes little progress

By RIA Novosti

Madrid : A meeting between top European Union (EU) and Iranian envoys in Spain ended with little progress in resolving a dispute on Tehran's controversial uranium enrichment programme but the negotiators agreed to resume discussions within two weeks.

Human trafficking scam: Key accused Rasheed in Delhi

By IANS

New Delhi : Rasheed Ali, the prime accused in the human trafficking scam involving Bharatiya Janata Party MP Babubhai Katara, was Friday brought to the national capital for further questioning.

‘Hyderabad blast a conspiracy to break Muslim unity’

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter

Lucknow :  Muslim Forum for National Integration founder president and Muslim community leader Iqbal Qureshi apprehends the hand of Israeli lobby in the May 18 Makkah Masjid blast in Hyderabad which to him aimed at creating hatred for Saudi Arabia among the Indian Muslims.

Two guerrillas, cop killed in Kashmir

By IANS

Srinagar : Two separatist guerrillas and a policeman were killed Friday when militants attacked an army convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district.

Pakistan to teach Bengali

By IANS

Dhaka : A Pakistani university has decided to open a Bengali department this month. This is a good 55 years after the demand for its recognition as an official language unleashed protests in the country's the then east wing, which is present-day Bangladesh.

Mentally ill murder accused opens fire in Lucknow hospital

By IANS

Lucknow : Panic reigned through the night at the King George's Medical University here when an under-trial, brought to the hospital for psychiatric evaluation, got hold of the service rifle of the escorting constable and threatened to open fire.

Dutt’s friend Hingora sentenced for supplying arms to him

By IANS

Mumbai : One man got life for his role in the Mumbai serial blasts by a special court, which Friday also sentenced Bollywood producer Samir Hingora, a close friend of actor Sanjay Dutt, to nine years rigorous imprisonment.

UAE, Vatican establish diplomatic relations

By IANS

New York : The United Arab Emirates and the Vatican have issued a joint communique here announcing the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Pakistan makes gender harassment at workplace punishable with dismissal

By IANS

Islamabad : Pakistan will amend its laws to make workplace harassment of women punishable with dismissal from service.

Pakistan bans tobacco ads – almost

By IANS

Islamabad : Pakistan has moved to ban tobacco advertisements from the print and television media as well as billboards, keeping only a one-hour early morning window open on television for them.

Pakistan’s ex-PM and tribal chief launch new party

By IANS

Karachi : Former Pakistan prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and tribal chief Pir Pagaro have announced the formation of a new political party, the Muttahida Muslim League (MML).

Blast kills two CRPF men in Kashmir

By IANS

Srinagar : Two paramilitary troopers were killed and three wounded when a grenade went off at their headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district Friday.

Christian gets death under Pakistan’s blasphemy law

By IANS

Lahore : Apprehending the worst, Younis Masih, a Pakistani Christian accused of insulting Islam, wept with Walter Fazal Khan, a fellow-Christian and prisoner, as the two prayed in a lock-up in a jail here.

Two teens held for attacking Indo-Canadian couple

By IANS

Toronto : Two teenagers are facing charges of assault after they attacked an elderly Indo-Canadian Sikh couple early this week, even as police continues to investigate what they suspect was a racially motivated attack.

Mujib killer in US faces deportation, seeks Canadian help

By IANS

Dhaka : The family of a Bangladesh Army major convicted for killing the country's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is making emotional appeals for asylum in Canada after the US decided to deport him.

Nine killed in Manipur as violence peaks

By IANS

Imphal : At least nine people, including a paramilitary trooper, were killed in separate insurgency-related violence in Manipur even as security forces in strength have been deployed in vulnerable areas, officials said Friday.

It was a mistake to label Indian Muslims a minority: Musharraf Zauqi

By Kashif-ul-huda
TwoCircles.net

Urdu writer, Musharraf Alam Zauqui, is based in the city of Delhi, India. For decades he has been writing on the condition of Muslims in India, their identity issues and their status in the social and political canvas of India. Zauqi has also been successful in writing about the ever-changing modern society, brought about by phenomenal scientific and technological advances.

Israel ready to transfer tax funds to Palestinians

By DPA

Jerusalem : Israel is prepared to transfer tax funds to the Palestinian Authority (PA), provided a mechanism is developed to ensure the money does not reach the Islamic Hamas movement, Israeli officials said.

No dollars please, happiness is Bhutan’s wealth

By Syed Zarir Hussain

IANS

Thimphu : Hollywood star Cameron Diaz just couldn't believe when she was told during a private visit to Bhutan that the country's wealth was measured by the happiness of its citizens.

22 army soldiers wounded in Srinagar explosion

By IANS

Srinagar : Twenty two Indian army soldiers have been wounded in a powerful roadside bomb explosion early Friday morning in the heart of Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar.

Katara murder: key accused gives list of 13 witnesses

By IANS

New Delhi : Vikas Yadav, the main accused in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case, Thursday submitted a list of 13 witnesses to a local court in his defence.

Man arrested for duping people of Rs.30 mn

By IANS

New Delhi : A man was arrested here for allegedly duping people to the tune of more than Rs.30 million, police said Thursday.

Fatwa against army aid for Kashmir mosques finds support

By IANS

Srinagar : Several Kashmiri religious leaders have endorsed issuing of 'fatwa' (edicts) against accepting money or help from the Indian Army in rebuilding the state's mosques and shrines, as they say it is against Islamic law.

Islamic militant to be hanged for Bangladesh bomb attack

By DPA

Dhaka : A prominent Islamic militant was sentenced to death by a district court in western Bangladesh for masterminding a serial bomb attack which was carried out two years ago, justice ministry officials said Thursday.

ISI agent arrested with secret documents in Delhi

By IANS

New Delhi : An alleged informer of Pakistan's spy agency Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) was arrested here while sending secret information of Indian armed forces to Pakistan via a man who was about to leave for that country, police revealed Thursday.

Probe ordered into BMW TV sting, veteran lawyer quits

By IANS

New Delhi : Calling it a "serious issue" for the criminal justice system, a rattled Delhi High Court Thursday ordered a probe into a TV sting that alleged a collusion between the prosecution and defence in the 1999 BMW hit-and-run case and prompted a veteran criminal lawyer to quit.

Two rebels sentenced to death in Pakistan for bombing

By DPA

Islamabad : A Pakistani court Thursday handed down death sentences to two members of a separatist organization for carrying out a car bomb attack in the southern city of Karachi in 2005 which killed three people and injured more than a dozen, media reported.

Delhi High Court takes note of TV sting operation

By IANS

New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Thursday directed its registrar general to collect the videotape of an expose by NDTV that purported to show collusion between the prosecution and defence attorneys in the trial of an influential businessman who ran over six people in his BMW eight years ago.

30 killed, 20 wounded in Fallujah

By IANS

Baghdad : A suicide bomber blew himself up Thursday in a gathering of police volunteers in Iraq's Fallujah city, killing at least 30 and wounding 20, independent Voices of Iraq news agency reported, citing an Iraqi police source.

Afghan delegation in Pakistan to prepare grand jirga

By DPA

Islamabad : An Afghan delegation arrived in Pakistan Thursday to prepare a scheduled meeting in August of a grand jirga, or council of elders. It is hoped this will help bring peace in Afghanistan by restricting cross-border infiltration by militants.

Pakistan to investigate press intimidation

By DPA

Islamabad : Pakistan's Supreme Court Thursday said it will probe recent incidents of harassment of journalists by state authorities and political groups as well as apparent warnings in the form of threatening phone calls and bullets left for reporters.

Amit Jogi acquitted of murder charge

By IANS

Raipur : A special court here Thursday acquitted former Chhhatisgarh chief minister and senior Congress leader Ajit Jogi's son Amit Jogi of involvement in a political murder in June 2003.

The verdict comes as a major relief for the state unit of the Congress, especially the Ajit Jogi camp, which was under severe criticism for the past four years over the murder case.

The court acquitted Amit Jogi, giving him the benefit of doubt.

Dozens of Afghan police, Taliban killed, NATO copter crashes

By DPA

Kabul : More than 30 Taliban fighters and at least 16 Afghan policemen were killed in separate incidents as a NATO helicopter came down possibly by Taliban fire in southern Afghanistan, killing seven on board, officials said Thursday.

Railway track blown up in Balochistan

By Xinhua

Islamabad : Unidentified men blew up a railway bridge Thursday in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan, police and railway officials said.

Karachi flush with garbage – real and political

By IANS

Karachi : Pakistan's largest city is flush with garbage real and political in the wake of a name-calling campaign against cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan after he denounced Karachi's dominant party, Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM).

Two get life term in 1993 Mumbai blasts

By IANS

Mumbai : A special court Thursday sentenced two people, including one of the main conspirators of the Mumbai 1993 blasts, to life imprisonment, besides awarding lesser punishments to five more convicts.

Afghan, NATO troops kill dozens of Taliban insurgents

By Xinhua


Kabul : Afghan and NATO forces killed and injured dozens of Taliban fighters in a joint operation in southern Afghanistan Thursday morning, according to the Afghan defence ministry.

Amit Jogi acquitted of murder charge

By IANS

Raipur : A special court here Thursday acquitted former Chhhatisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi's son Amit Jogi of involvement in a political murder in June 2003.

Litvinenko, Berezovsky spied for Britain says Lugovoi

By RIA Novosti

Moscow : Andrei Lugovoi, accused by Britain of poisoning to death former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko, said Thursday Litvinenko and fugitive tycoon Boris Berezovsky worked for the British secret services.

Bihar to start PSC coaching for Minority students

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter

Patna: Mr. Rashid Khan, Secretary of Minority Welfare Department of
the Bihar Government stated today that the state government has
started to accept application for admission in a special coaching
scheme for Minority students. This is to ensure good performance of
the students of the minority community in the competitive examination.
He hoped that the participation of minority community in different

20 killed in suicide bomb attack in Iraq

By Xinhua

Baghdad : At least 20 people were killed and more than 20 wounded Thursday when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a recruitment centre in the restive city of Fallujah, local police said.`

Probe into TV sting in BMW case, veteran lawyer quits

By IANS

New Delhi : A Delhi court Thursday ordered a probe into a sting operation by a TV news channel, which alleged collusion between the prosecution and defence attorneys in the 1999 BMW hit-and-run case and prompted a veteran criminal lawyer to quit the proceedings.

JK Gujjar united front condemns Rajasthan killings

By News Agency of Kashmir Jammu: Criticizing the Rajasthan Government for killing of innocent members of Gujjar Community during a protest held to highlight their demand for their inclusion in scheduled Tribe list , Secretary General of the Jammu and Kashmir Gujjars United Front, Shah Mohammad Choudhary has termed the incident as unfortunate and demanded CBI inquiry for fixing the responsibility.

Report to the people 2004-07 by Ministry of Minority Affairs

TwoCircles.net news desk Following are the excerpts from the Report to the people 2004-07 on the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The Report was released by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on 22nd May, 2007.

Antony meets POWs’ kin visiting Pakistan

By IANS

New Delhi : A group of 14 Indians visiting Pakistan to verify if their kin are lodged in its jails as prisoners of war (POWs), Thursday called on Defence Minister A.K. Antony, who hoped their efforts would be successful.

Pakistani Christian sentenced to death over blasphemy charges

By DPA

Islamabad : A Pakistan court has sentenced a Christian to death on blasphemy charges in a video trial in the central city of Lahore, media reported Thursday.

Bangladeshi nationals arrested for Orissa robberies

By IANS

Balasore (Orissa) : Six Bangladeshi nationals were arrested here Thursday on charges of accosting and looting people on highways.

Thirty injured in Pakistan mosque stampede

By DPA

Islamabad : Around 30 people were injured during a stampede by devotees offering prayers with a prominent Saudi cleric at a mosque in the Pakistani city of Lahore, news reports said Thursday.

Three Kurdish rebels killed in eastern Turkey

By Xinhua

Ankara : Three militants of the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) were killed in operations in eastern Turkey launched by the Turkish security forces, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported Thursday.

Court orders probe into NDTV sting in BMW case

By IANS

New Delhi : A Delhi court Thursday ordered a probe into the sting operation by a television news channel that alleged collusion between the prosecution and defence counsels to help Sanjeev Nanda, accused of killing six people with a BMW car in a 1999 hit-and-run case.

Three troopers wounded in Kashmir explosion

By IANS

Srinagar : Three troopers of Border Security Force (BSF) were wounded in a landmine explosion in north Kashmir Thursday.

Fifty-eight convicted in fodder scam case

By IANS

Ranchi : A court here Thursday convicted 58 people and awarded them five to six years in prison in a fodder scam case involving embezzlement of millions of rupees from the treasury of pre-bifurcation Bihar.

Two killed by Maoists in Bihar

By IANS

Patna : Tension gripped a Bihar village after two ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) activists were killed by Maoist guerrillas for allegedly working as police informers.

Two sentenced for life in 1993 Mumbai blasts

By IANS

Mumbai : A special court Thursday sentenced two people, including one of the main conspirators of the Mumbai 1993 blasts, to life imprisonment.

Protests after undertrials’ death, jail doctor suspended

By IANS

Lucknow : The death of two undertrials at the District Jail here has raised quite a storm with inmates sitting on a hunger strike Thursday while local residents joined hands and put up roadblocks to protest alleged ill treatment of undertrials forcing authorities to suspend the jail doctor.

A 10-year-old serial killer?

By IANS

Patna : Police in Bihar are probing the disturbing case of a 10-year-old boy who is alleged to have killed three children, all below a year old.

MQM denies threatening scribes, calls it ‘conspiracy’

By IANS

Karachi : Accused of nursing a front organisation that allegedly placed bullets in the cars of three journalists, the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has termed the reports "a conspiracy" and asked the government to book the culprits.

Young officer’s slaying kills his marriage dream

By IANS

Jammu : The family of Deputy Superintendent of Police Shailey Singh was looking forward to his wedding when separatist guerrillas gunned down the young and dare devil officer in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sindh court refuses to discuss May 12 violence with governor

By IANS

Karachi : While Pakistan's Supreme Court hears its chief justice's petition challenging his dismissal, confrontation is also building up in Sindh where the top judge has refused to the discuss the May 12 violence in Karachi with the governor of the province.

Religion may have played role in murder of NRI family

By IANS

Los Angeles : Religion could have played a role in the brutal death of two members of an Indian American family last week, according to court papers.

Poisonous toothpaste seized in Nicaragua

By IANS

Managua : The Nicaraguan health ministry said it has seized some 40,000 tubes of toothpaste containing a highly poisonous substance, Spanish news agency EFE reported Thursday.

Khan to be axed as public counsel in hit-and-run trial

By IANS

New Delhi : Caught on the back-foot after a shocking TV exposé, a new public prosecutor will be named in the high-profile murder trial involving a BMW car driven by a rich and influential businessman, police officials said.

Interference of Gujrat Government in investigation process of fake encounter

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter Ahmadabad: I.G.P.Geeta Jauhri who is the head of enquiry team of the incident of fake encounter of Sohrabuddin has demanded extra power and said that this case should be handled to C.B.I. if the powers are not given to me. Mrs Jauhri told to the sources that she needs extra powers to investigate I.P.S. officers.This situation is created when she didn't get permission to question a senior I.P.S. officer Dr.N.K.Ameen.

Decision to celebrate Maulana Azad’s birthday as education day

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter

Patna:Nitish Government of Bihar has taken a decision to celebrate the birthday of Bharat Ratan Maulana Abul Kalam Azad as Education Day. State cabinet has approved this decision and now 11th November will be celebrated as education day. The Secretary of cabinet A.K.Chauhan has given this information after cabinet's meeting.

Two Palestinians killed in car explosion in West Bank

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Two Palestinians killed in car explosion in West Bank

By DPA

Ramallah : Two Palestinian militants were killed when a car they were traveling in exploded in the West Bank city of Nablus, the Voice of Palestine radio said on Thursday.

13 killed in militant attack in Pakistan

By Xinhua

Islamabad : Thirteen people including two women were killed in a firing incident Thursday near northwestern Pakistani city of Tank, state media reported.

I-card for expats to be mandatory from next year

By IANS

Dubai : All expatriates living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be issued multipurpose identity cards from next year.

Government withdraws from case against Benazir in Swiss court

By IANS

Islamabad : Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has withdrawn from a $150 million corruption case against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and two others in a Swiss court.

Egyptian officials meet Hamas delegation in mediation bid

By Xinhua

Cairo : Egyptian mediators have started talks with a Hamas delegation to explore ways to resolve the Palestinian infighting.

Court to decide on Amit Jogi’s fate

By IANS

Raipur : A special court will Thursday pronounce its verdict in a four-year old murder case in which Amit Jogi, son of former Chhhatisgarh chief minister and Congress leader Ajit Jogi, is the prime accused along with 28 others.

Iran rejects preconditions for nuclear talks

By Xinhua

Madrid : Iran has rejected any preconditions for the nuclear talks with European Union (EU) scheduled Thursday here.

Ban on rallies in Islamabad

By Xinhua

Islamabad : All kinds of gathering of five or more people, rallies and demonstrations at any public place have been banned in the capital city of Islamabad for a period of two months.

Seven NATO soldiers killed in chopper crash in Afghanistan

By Xinhua

Kabul : A NATO military helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan, killing seven NATO soldiers on board, the military said early Thursday, while the Taliban claimed responsibility for shooting it down.

Seven NATO soldiers killed in chopper crash in Afghanistan

By Xinhua

Kabul : A NATO military helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan, killing seven NATO soldiers on board, the military said early Thursday, while the Taliban claimed responsibility for shooting it down.

2 militants hold up near Doda Radio Station, fierce gun battle on

By News Agency of Kashmir Jammu: A deputy superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir police was killed during a raid on the militants' hideout in Bhaderwah town of district Doda, this evening, where two foreign militants are hold up in a residential building. Reports reaching here revealed that based on specific inputs Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a combat operation at Udrana near State Bank of India behind Radio Station Bhaderwah, this evening.

TV channel exposes attempts to buy witness in high-profile trial

By IANS

New Delhi : In a sensational turn to a dragging trial for murder involving a hit-and-run BMW car driven by a rich and influential businessman, a television news channel Wednesday broadcast an expose that purported to show the shocking collusion between the prosecution and defence attorneys who seek to bribe the sole surviving witness to change his testimony.

Police officer killed in Kashmir gunbattle

By IANS

Jammu : A police officer was killed in a gunbattle with terrorists in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday evening.

13 fodder scam convicts jailed for three years

By IANS

New Delhi : A designated anti-corruption court in Jharkhand Wednesday sentenced four former state government officials and nine others with three years' jail term each for defrauding the state exchequer of Rs.72 million in cheating and corruption cases, known cumulatively as fodder scam.

Israel decides against expanding Gaza offensive

By DPA

Gaza/Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's inner security cabinet decided Wednesday against expanding a two-week-old offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to intense rocket fire at its southern towns and villages from the area.

Soldier kills colleague in Kashmir

By IANS

Srinagar : An irate soldier Wednesday shot dead a colleague in yet another incident of fratricide in armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

Fresh attack on Bhutan refugees, 15 hurt

By IANS

Kathmandu : Leaders of Bhutanese refugees on a protest-march back home agreed to withdraw the stir Wednesday but thousands staging a sit-in were baton charged by the Nepali police, leaving at least 15 protesters injured.

Bangladesh refutes allegations of ‘nourishing’ anti-Indian rebels

By DPA

Dhaka : The caretaker government in Bangladesh Wednesday refuted allegations in the Indian media that Bangladesh was "nourishing" anti-Indian insurgents on its soil, foreign ministry officials said.

Kidnapping is ‘serious challenge’ says Iraqi minister

By DPA

London : Abduction of five Britons in Baghdad is a "very serious challenge" to the Iraqi government, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Wednesday.

1993 Mumbai blasts: Dawood aide, another get life

By IANS

Mumbai : A special court Wednesday sentenced two people, including a close aide of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts mastermind Dawood Ibrahim, to life imprisonment for transporting explosives.

Love affair lands three Delhi cops in Nepal jail

By IANS

Kathmandu : Three Indian policemen were arrested in eastern Nepal Wednesday for carrying arms illegally and trying to unlawfully drag a Nepali back to India over a love affair in Delhi.

20 Taliban, four policemen killed in Afghan clashes

By DPA

Kabul : Afghan and US-led coalition forces killed more than 20 suspected Taliban fighters while four policemen were killed in a series of ambushes and attacks by militants and a raid on a militant compound, officials said Wednesday.

Khuda Bakhsh Library hosts lecture on 1857: A Resounding Voice in Russia

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter

Patna :  Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library organised a public lecture on 1857 Revolution: A Resounding Voice in Russia here Sunday to mark the ongoing celebrations of the First War of Independence. Former Principal Patna College Professor N.P. Verma delivered a very thought provoking lecture on the subject enlightening the audience of the specially convened programme chaired by former Head Department of History in Patna University Professor Yuvraj Dev Prasad, reports Urdu daily Hindustan Express Wednesday.

Hamas denies ‘secret decision’ to halt rocket attacks

By Xinhua

Gaza : Hamas denied Wednesday that it has taken a secret decision to halt rocket attacks against Israel, Ezz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement said.

Iran refuses to suspend nuclear programne: Larijani

By RIA Novosti

Tehran : Iran's top nuclear negotiator reiterated Wedneday, prior to a meeting in Spain with the EU's foreign policy chief, that Iran plans to continue with its nuclear programme.

Do not blame Pakistan for Afghan problem: Kasuri

By DPA

Berlin : Blaming Pakistan for the problems in Afghanistan is counterproductive, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said Wednesday in an article in the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Olmert convenes security cabinet over Gaza violence

By DPA

Gaza : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert convened his inner security cabinet Wednesday morning to debate how to proceed with a two-week-old offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to intense rocket-fire from the area at southern Israel.

International think tank calls for immediate steps to ensure security

By INEPNEXTBrussels : A report released by the International Crisis Group (ICG) Tuesday noted that Sri Lanka's Muslims have been "victims of massacres, ethnic...

Musharraf promised to accommodate me: Chaudhry

By IANS Islamabad: Pakistan's sacked chief justice has recalled his "forced stay" at the army headquarters on March 9 when President Pervez Musharraf, in the presence of the top army brass, promised to "accommodate" him if he resigned. In an affidavit filed on his behalf before the Supreme Court, Iftikar Mohammad Chaudhry has revealed the inside story of the "forced stay" when he was forced to spend five hours with intelligence operatives after he refused to quit, Daily Times said Wednesday.

Ulemas warn MP would not be allowed to become another Gujarat

By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net Bhopal, May 29: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP), in Madhya Pradesh in particular and the United Progressive Alliance at the Center in general came under vitriolic attack here as speaker after speaker without mincing words took to task the two governments for pushing Muslims to the wall in the wake of communal riots and other atrocities.

Lebanon arrests terrorist mastermind

By Xinhua Beirut, Lebanese security agents have arrested a terrorist mastermind at a Beirut hotel from whose suite the agents found a list of targets for possible terrorist attacks, Naharnet news website reported. Quoting what was said "a reliable source", the news website reported that the police anti-terrorism officers busted the suspect's suite Tuesday, arrested him and confiscated at least 10 forged passports for Arab and western countries.

Syrian speaker announces Assad as president for a new term

By Xinhua Damascus, Syrian Speaker of the People's Assembly (parliament) Mahmoud al-Abrash has officially announced Bashar al-Assad as president of Syria for a new seven-year constitutional term following final results of a Sunday referendum in which Assad won 97.62 percent of votes. "I proclaim Bashar al-Assad president of the Syrian Arab Republic for a mandate of seven years... beginning on July 17, 2007," Abrash told a special session of parliament broadcast live on television Tuesday.

One of nine injured in Pakistan bomb blast dies

By Xinhua Islamabad, One of the nine people wounded in the bomb blast Tuesday in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar died in the hospital. A car bomb exploded outside the Peshawar High Court building near the Nishtar Hall Tuesday morning at 10.45. Nine people were wounded in the blast. They were shifted to the city's main Lady Reading hospital, where a 20-year-old man succumbed to injuries Tuesday evening. He was a messenger in the Peshawar High Court.

Orissa’s green woman fights environmental blues – from thatched hut

By Hemant Kumar Rout, Bhubaneswar, Other people begin the day with a walk or a prayer to the gods, but not Orissa's doughty Urmila Behera who starts off each morning by planting at least 10 trees in and around her village. The 48-year-old woman from Kothapada village in Balasore district has been doing so for the last 15 years - planting more than 100,000 trees in at least 60 villages without taking any financial assistance from the government or anyone else.

The once grand Yamuna riverfront is now a wasteland

By Brij Khandelwal

IANS

Agra : For centuries, Hindus crowded the banks of the Yamuna for religious ceremonies. Today, no one can take a dip even on festivals because the river overflows with filth, effluents, dirt and even dead bodies.

Chhattisgarh still numbed by police assault

By Sujeet Kumar

IANS

Raipur : People in Chhattisgarh are still unable to overcome the shock caused by the brutal police assault on women and even an old man during a public protest here last week.

Three infiltrators killed in Jammu and Kashmir

By IANS

Jammu : At least three militants trying to infiltrate into India from Pakistan across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's mountainous Poonch district have been killed.

Cargo ship with Indian crew hijacked by Somali pirates

By IANS

Dubai : An United Arab Emirates (UAE) registered cargo vessel with a 14 member Indian crew onboard has been hijacked by Somali pirates.

Five Britons kidnapped in Iraq

By Xinhua

London : The British foreign office has confirmed the abduction of five Britons in Baghdad.

Philippine Muslim rebels struggle amid unfulfilled promises

By DPA

Carmen (Philippines) : Since the age of 15 Muslim rebel Datumanong Lumanggal has fought countless battles against government troops in the southern Philippines to defend his peoples' rights and identity.

Blasts in southwest Pakistan over 1998 nuclear test

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275 missing diplomatic passports recovered

By IANS

New Delhi : Delhi Police Tuesday recovered 275 more blank diplomatic passports from a garbage dump in the city following the discovery that the sensitive documents had gone missing from the airport here last week.

Paramilitary forces rushed to troubled Rajasthan

By IANS

New Delhi : The central government Tuesday rushed over 2,500 paramilitary personnel to Rajasthan to assist police in restoring peace after at least 14 people were killed in the state's worst outbreak of violence in decades.

Dausa firing: highway blocked, many stranded

By IANS

Jaipur : A highway that interconnects India's most popular tourist circuit called the Golden Triangle was completely blocked Tuesday after clashes between the police and a local community left 11 dead.

Munnar demolition drive: Mammootty’s land inspected

By IANS

Munnar (Kerala) : Malayalam superstar Mammootty's landholding near Munnar Tuesday came under the scanner of a special team tasked to evict encroachers from the popular hill station.

Nithari accused Pandher charged with ‘harbouring criminal’

By IANS

Ghaziabad : A Ghaziabad court Tuesday added a fresh charge of harbouring criminal against Noida businessman Moninder Singh Pandher facing trial for his alleged role in the gruesome serial killings of children and young women in Nithari.

Pakistan defence budget to go up by Rs.30 bn

By IANS

Islamabad : The Pakistani government is to increase its defence budget for the 2007-08 fiscal year by Rs.30 billion to about Rs.280 billion.

Thousands of Christians, Dalits court arrest in Delhi

By IANS

New Delhi : At least 3,000 Christians, Dalits and rights activists from across the country courted arrest here Tuesday while protesting against the "silence" of the government on the alleged rise in anti-Christian attacks.

Musharraf urges progress on Kashmir

By Xinhua

Islamabad : Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf Tuesday stressed the urgent need to resolve conflicts with India, particularly the Kashmir issue.

Court dismisses Nanda’s plea, allows summoning of witness

By IANS

New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Tuesday dismissed the plea of Sanjeev Nanda, prime accused in a case of road accident here in 1999 in which six people were killed, and allowed the trial court to summon eyewitness Sunil Kulkarni for deposition.

Probe urged into yet another ‘staged killing’ in Gujarat

By IANSNew Delhi : Putting further pressure on the Gujarat government, a rights group Tuesday approached the Supreme Court seeking a Central Bureau of...

Taliban resurgence creating arc of instability: India

By IANS

New Delhi : Warning that the Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan had created an "arc of instability", External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Tuesday that India was prepared to work with the world to restore peace in the area.

Musharraf meets Indian MP, urges conflict resolution

By Xinhua

Islamabad : Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf Tuesday met Indian MP Nirmala Deshpande and stressed there was an urgent need to make progress in conflict resolution with India, especially the Kashmir dispute, in order to consolidate the peace process.

One more petition on ‘staged killings’ in Gujarat

By IANS

New Delhi : Adding to the woes of the Gujarat government over allegations of staged killings, a rights group Tuesday moved the Supreme Court for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the killing of yet another Muslim youth in the state in 2002.

Killer gets death sentence in Jharkhand

By IANS Ranchi : A Jharkhand court Tuesday awarded death sentence to a man convicted for killing five members of a family in Bokaro district in 2002. District Sessions Judge Prakash Rai gave death sentence to Mahendra Kumar Mandal alias Mantu Mandal, terming the case as the rarest of the rare. Mandal was threatening the family of Rabindra Mishra, an employee of the Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) to extort money from them. Mishra had also registered a complaint with police and sought protection.

Muslims to rule Malegaon civic body

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter

Malegaon :  Muslims of this handloom town called the "Manchester of Maharashtra" are all set to rule the local civic body. For, the Indian Muslim Congress Party (IMCP), a front supported by local Ulema and community leaders, emerged as the single largest party in the elections to the Malegaon Municipal Corporation declared here Monday.

In the 72-member house, the IMCP won 26 seats. It has also managed to secure the support of two Independents.

Pakistani parliament probes premier’s alleged flirting with Rice

By DPA

Islamabad : Senators in the upper house of Pakistan's parliament Tuesday moved a motion to summon Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz over "shameful" allegations that he tried to use seductive charm to win over US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during talks.

Bangladeshi politicians detained by Indian border guards

By IANS

Agartala : Four Bangladeshi politicians, including two former MPs, who apparently fled the country to evade a crackdown there have been apprehended by Indian border guards in Tripura, officials here said Tuesday.

Blast kills nine in Nepal

By IANS

Kathmandu : Nine people, including five members of a family, were killed in a bomb blast in western Nepal's Palpa district Tuesday morning, an incident that comes a year after the signing of a peace pact with Maoist insurgents.

‘Fatwa’ against Indian Army aid to Kashmir mosques

By IANS

Srinagar : Kashmir's Grand Mufti, Mufti Muhammad Bashir-ud-Din, has issued a 'fatwa' against accepting money or help from the Indian Army in rebuilding the state's mosques and shrines, saying it was against Islamic law.

Jamiat Ulema scuffle comes to a boil

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter

New Delhi :  The tussle between Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Syed Arshad Madani and its general secretary Maulana Syed Mahmood Madani had been simmering and simmering since the day, nay much before, the former was named the organisation's president under an agreement between the two following the demise of then president and father of Mahmood Madani last year. But it has now come to a boil when Arshad Madani chose to nullify the said agreement at a meeting of Jamiat's working committee held at its headquarters here Monday.

Israeli troops kill two militants in Gaza

By RIA Novosti

Gaza : Israeli troops killed two Hamas militants after moving into southern Gaza early Tuesday, local television reported.

Solana confirms nuclear talks with Iran for Thursday

By DPA

Hamburg : EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana speaking Tuesday on the fringes of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Hamburg confirmed he would meet as scheduled on May 31 with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.

Memon aide, customs officials sentenced for Mumbai blasts

By IANS

Mumbai : Seven people, including a senior customs official and a close aide of absconding mastermind Tiger Memon, were sentenced to prison terms by a special court here Tuesday for their role in the 1993 serial Mumbai blasts.

Car bomb injures nine near Pakistani court

By DPA

Islamabad : Nine people were injured when a car bomb blew up Tuesday near the Peshawar High Court in north-west Pakistan, hospital officials said.

Two soldiers killed by roadside bomb in Pakistan

By DPA

Islamabad : Two more paramilitary troops were killed and eight injured in a militant attack in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province as a security convoy was hit by a roadside bomb, media reports said Tuesday.

Rs.20 mn ransom for abducted Orissa businessman

By IANS

Bhubaneswar : An Orissa businessman has been abducted and his family has received a ransom demand of Rs.20 million, police here said Tuesday.

Nine killed in blast in west Nepal

By IANS

Kathmandu : Nine people have been killed in a bomb explosion in western Nepal's Palpa district Tuesday, an incident that comes a year after the formal signing of a peace pact with Maoist insurgents.

Bihar MP charged with firing on police

By IANS

Patna : Police have filed a chargesheet against Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) MP Surajbhan Singh in a fast track court in Bihar's Begusarai district for opening fire on policemen during a raid in 1992, officials said Tuesday.

Ruling in Chaudhry’s case ‘irrespective of consequences’

By IANS

Islamabad : Pakistan's Supreme Court will decide on suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry's petition "irrespective of the consequences" and despite previous court rulings being overturned by executive orders.

Maoist rebels kill four in Jharkhand

By IANS

Ranchi : Maoist rebels have killed four members of its breakaway group in Lathear district of Jharkhand, police said Tuesday.

Israel arrests Fatah lawmaker, strikes Hamas post in Gaza

By DPA

Ramallah : An Israeli army unit Tuesday arrested Jamal Tirawi, a Fatah lawmaker, in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian security officials said.

‘Fatwa’ against army help to for Kashmir mosques

By IANS

Srinagar : Kashmir's Grand Mufti, Mufti Muhammad Bashir-ud-Din, has issued a 'fatwa' against accepting money or help from the Indian Army in rebuilding mosques and shrines.

Jihadist recruiter arrested in Spain

By Xinhua

Madrid : Spanish police have arrested one person for alleged links with a network sending mercenaries to Iraq and Afghanistan, interior ministry officials said here.

Rebel accused of shooting down US plane arrested

By IANS

Bogota : A suspected member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), accused of participating in the 2003 downing of a light plane carrying three US contractors, has been captured, authorities said.

Bhagwandas on leave, Pakistan gets new acting chief justice

By IANS

Islamabad : Pakistan's acting chief justice Rana Bhagwandas, who took the place of suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, has gone on leave and a new man been appointed in his place.

Joint forces clamp down on Bangladesh politicians

By Xinhua

Dhaka : Bangladesh's army-led joint forces have clamped down on politicians without giving any reasons and have arrested many senior leaders and former ministers of two past ruling parties of the country.

Drop the girl’s name in songs: Pakistan Supreme Court

By IANS

Islamabad : Pakistan's Supreme Court has directed pop singer Abrarul Haq to omit the name Parveen from a song that forced a girl with the same name to quit college after being eve-teased.

Six die as police fire on protestors in Rajasthan

By IANS

Jaipur : At least six people were killed in Rajasthan Tuesday when police opened fire to disperse thousands of Gujjars who had blocked a national highway demanding that they be included in the Scheduled Tribe list.

British soldier killed in Afghanistan

By DPA

London : A British soldier was killed by insurgents in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence reported in London.

Pipe bomb detonated near APEC meeting venue in Australia

By Xinhua

Canberra : Australian police detonated a pipe bomb found near the venue of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) energy ministers' meeting in Darwin, capital city of Australia's Northern Territory.

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